BEDMINSTER - Though Central Jersey may be getting some much-needed rain on Tuesday, the Raritan Headwaters Association is asking Gov. Chris Christie to declare a drought emergency immediately.

A drought emergency would mandate water conservation measures in counties covered by the emergency.

“We at Raritan Headwaters don’t see the drought situation improving in the near future,” said Bill Kibler, policy director for the non-profit organization, adding that Tuesday's expected rain won't make any dent in what is becoming a frightening situation. “State Climatologist David Robinson has predicted warmer than average temperatures over the next three months - which will mean more evaporation – along with average precipitation.”

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To end the drought, Kibler said, above-average precipitation will be needed for several months.

Raritan Headwaters Association, which acts as as a watchdog over the North and South branches of the Raritan River and its watershed in northern and central New Jersey believes it would be a mistake for Christie to wait that long.

“We’re going to be in a real bind next spring if the state climatologist’s predictions are correct, so the time to address this is now,” Kibler said. “Now is the time to tighten our belts.”

Brian Murray, the governor's spokesman, said Christie will defer to Bob Martin, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP is continually monitoring the key indicators of a drought - such as river and reservoir levels and precipitation - and is in constant contact with the governor's office, said Lawrence Hajna, a DEP spokesman.

"This is the driest period in more than a decade," Hajna added.

Recent rain has raised the water level in Round Valley Reservoir, prompting the state to drop its drought warning.(Photo: ~File)

The DEP on Oct. 20 elevated the water supply status in northern, central and northern coastal New Jersey from drought watch to drought warning. At the time, officials indicated that they would revisit the issue in a few months to determine if a drought emergency is warranted.

“We’re deeply concerned about this drought, and believe Gov. Christie should take strong action for water conservation by upgrading large parts of New Jersey from ‘drought warning’ to ‘water emergency,’ ” said Cindy Ehrenclou, executive director of the Raritan Headwaters Association.

As of Nov. 10 - following a week in which 300 million gallons of water were released from Round Valley to add to local water supplies – the Hunterdon County reservoir has dropped to 66.5 percent of its 55-billion-gallon capacity.

New Jersey’s third-largest reservoir, Spruce Run, also in Hunterdon County, was at 33.0 percent of capacity, according to New Jersey Water Supply Authority website.

​Spruce Run’s record low, set in October 1993, is 28.2 percent of its 11 billion gallon capacity.

The scene at Spruce Run a few weeks ago - the water level also only gotten lower in recent weeks.(Photo: ~Photo courtesy Raritan Headwaters)

“An unfortunate new record was set on Nov. 4, when the water level in Round Valley Reservoir dropped to 67.1 percent of capacity, below the previous record of 67.2 percent set in November 1982,” said Ehrenclou.

For Kibler, now is the time to initiate conservation measures.

“I like to use the analogy of a household budget,” Kibler said. “I can’t really change my income, at least in the short run. So if I can’t keep up with bills, the only thing I can do is prioritize my spending and cut back somewhere.

“The same goes with our water supply,” he added. “We can’t control precipitation – we get what we get. The only thing we can do is look at the conservation side of the equation and learn how to budget our water use.”

Kibler emphasized that even if a drought emergency is not declared, residents can immediately help conserve water by voluntarily choosing to use less water.

Here are some water conservation tips:

Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when they’re full

Turn the faucet off when brushing your teeth or shaving

Fix leaky faucets, pipes and toilets

Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it at home, as car washes recycle their water

Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap to get the water cold

Opt for showers instead of baths, and keep your showers as short as possible to save thousands of gallons per month

If you run the tap to get water warm for a shower, collect the water and use it for other household purposes

Collect the water you use while rinsing fruits and vegetables, and use it for watering houseplants

Install low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets.

The same tips can be used by people with wells. Kibler pointed out that groundwater levels drop as reservoir levels drop, so having a well is no protection from the impacts of a drought.